... supports the creativity and leadership of people who have been harmed by street violence and live in a long-term care facility. Through storytelling, poetry, hip-hop and more, OPEN DOORS members inspire action for safer, more just communities...

The weekly Roosevelt Island Farmer’s Market, administered by the Parent Teacher Association of PS/IS 217, is going back home this winter.

The Saturday market - which offers fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats, baked goods and other specialty products - is moving back to its former location under the Helix road ramp from its current location at Good Shepherd Plaza beginning November 24 through Saturday March 9, 2019.

The enclosed space under the Helix can be heated and is expected to keep both vendors and customers comfortable while selling and buying goods.

Not sure what RIOC means by administered by the PTA. My understanding is that the PTA does not do anything for the Market other than collect fees from vendors.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS VEHICLES ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY DRIVING UP AND DOWN THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND HELIX RAMP. THE NYC SANITATION DEPARTMENT IS ON SCENE ATTEMPTING TO PLOW AND LAY DOWN SALT TO CORRECT THE CONDITION AND ALLOW FOR SAFE PASSAGE BY MOTORISTS. AN UPDATE ADVISORY WILL BE SENT OUT ONCE TRAFFIC HAS RESUMED ITS NORMAL FLOW. PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING IN THESE CONDITIONS.

UPDATE 5:50 PM - From RIOC:

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT AFTER A BRIEF WEATHER-INDUCED DELAY TRAFFIC ON THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND BRIDGE AND THE HELIX RAMP HAS RESUMED ITS NORMAL FLOW. THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION AS WELL AS RIOC EMERGENCY VEHICLES WILL BE PLOWING/SALTING THROUGHOUT THE EVENING. PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING IN THESE CONDITIONS.

The Public Safety Department is hosting its annual NY Cares Coat Drive. This program has brought warmth to many needy families during our frigid winters and it is with this thought in mind that we ask the Roosevelt Island Community to step up to the plate once again by dropping off a gently used winter coat.

Donated coats will be accepted at the Public Safety Department
550 Main Street
24 Hours a day.
Now until December 28th

New Yorkers eager to trade in their summer styles for some like- new fall fashions are in luck. Stop ‘N’ Swap®, a free community reuse event organized by the local non- profit GrowNYC, is coming to Roosevelt Island for the very first time, in partnership with iDig2Learn and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.

The public is invited to bring clean, portable, reusable items to share with those who can use them. No one is required to bring something to take something — you can simply show up with a bag and see what’s free for the taking.

WHAT: Free Stop ‘N’ Swap Community Reuse Event

WHEN: Sunday, November 18, 12pm-3pm

WHERE: Manhattan Park Theater Club, 8 River Rd, Roosevelt Island

“The average NYC household discards about 2,000 pounds of waste a year. By reusing through events like Stop ‘N’ Swap, NYC residents can take part in diverting over 40 million pounds of material a year from the landfill,” said Marcel Van Ooyen, GrowNYC President and CEO. The organization has set a goal of hosting one swap in each of the city’s 59 community districts each year in response to increasing demand for the events.

iDig2Learn's founder, Christina Delfico said, "It's perfect timing before the holidays to find a gift or something you need, whether it's clothing, toys or household items. Even packaged food is welcome, and we’re excited to announce that Gristedes Supermarket will be donating dry goods to the event.”

"Providing the community with access to free goods is exactly the type of event we are happy to support," said Susan Rosenthal, CEO and President of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. “Many of us have good quality items that we no longer have a use for, and there is no better way than a free community swap to find a new home for them.”

Girl Scout Troop 3233 will also be at the Roosevelt Island Swap, helping share ideas with New Yorkers about reuse and its value. “I’m proud to see these Girl Scouts taking action to make the world a better place by working to use resources wisely, and reuse items rather than buy new ones,” said Meridith Maskara, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Greater New York.

Anything leftover at the end of the day is donated or recycled. Furniture and other large items are not accepted at the swap.

Amazon announced today that Anable Basin in Long Island City, right across the East River from Roosevelt Island, will be the site of one of it's two new Headquarter sites.

The proposed #AmazonHQ2 in LIC where Plaxall already was planning a mixed-use development project in Anable Basin on the waterfront near the Pepsi sign. Will @amazon jobs afford workers to live in LIC/Astoria? Fund @BilldeBlasio's light rail project? Improve N/W/R/7/G service? pic.twitter.com/LzUEtQXcoD

... In 2019, Amazon will occupy up to 500,000 square feet at One Court Square while working to construct four million square feet of commercial space on Long Island City’s waterfront over the next 10 years, with expansion opportunities for up to 8 million square feet over the next 15 years. Through a $3.6 billion total investment, Amazon will draw from the diverse and talented workforce in New York State to fill at least 25,000 new jobs by 2029 and up to 40,000 jobs by 2034 with an average salary of $150,000. The construction is expected to create an average of 1300 direct construction jobs annually through 2033. Overall, the project is estimated to create more than 107,000 total direct and indirect jobs and over $14 billion in new tax revenue for the State and a net of $13.5 billion in City tax revenue. The project provides a 9:1 return on investment....

... The City-State agreement with Amazon includes commitments to build a jointly-funded 10,000 square-foot onsite employment center to connect local residents with jobs and training. A $15 million investment will expand the JobsPlus program to Queensbridge Houses and expand tuition-free tech training to its residents—serving nearly 1,800 residents over the next 10 years.

The agreement also secures a new approximately 600-seat intermediate public school, a 3.5-acre waterfront esplanade and park, and the establishment of a Long Island City Infrastructure Fund to invest 50 percent of the project’s PILOT proceeds to deliver on transportation and other neighborhood priorities that will be identified in collaboration with the local community...

... The State and City will collaborate with the company and local community to conduct an environmental review and develop a General Project Plan, as is typically done for large City-State development projects, including nearby Queens West. A Community Advisory Committee will be established, which will include representatives of the State, City and local elected officials. In addition, longtime community developer Plaxall will advance development on adjoining waterfront sites that will include planning that complements Amazon’s new headquarters....

... “Amazon’s decision to locate to Long Island City is an affirmation not only of N.Y.C.’s growing tech talent,” Mr. Bloomberg wrote on Twitter, “but also of all the investments — in housing, schools, parks, transportation, and culture” made in Long Island City.

Indeed, as part of one tour of New York City this year, Amazon executives were taken around the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island — an innovation incubator and a legacy of Mr. Bloomberg’s tenure — and back to Long Island City using a new ferry system created by Mr. de Blasio....

... Cornell Tech is proud to welcome Amazon to New York City as its new neighbor across the river from our campus on Roosevelt Island. By choosing Long Island City for HQ2, Amazon will join one of the world’s fastest-growing and most diverse tech communities,...

Cornell Tech is spinning out hundreds of graduates each year as well as groundbreaking, impactful research, and through key partnerships with CUNY and K-12 public schools, we are expanding the city’s pipeline of skilled tech talent. New York City has emerged as a destination for tech and innovation, and Amazon’s arrival will accelerate growth and success for the city and for Cornell Tech.”....

Has anybody talked about how Roosevelt Island is now already almost all expensive coops with the Cornell campus right there and a tram ride from Bloomingdales and is maybe obviously going to be taken over by Amazons?

Amazon is a billion-dollar company. The idea that it will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks at a time when our subway is crumbling and our communities need MORE investment, not less, is extremely concerning to residents here.

BREAKING: New York Democratic lawmaker @RonTKim moves to block Amazon deal with legislation to take $1.7 billion of taxpayer subsidies proposed for Jeff Bezos and redirect them into reducing New Yorkers’ student debt https://t.co/9zOqOTjbaX

Ever since our grandfather opened Plaxall at Anable Basin more than 70 years ago, our family has believed in Long Island City as a center of productivity, innovation, and artistic creativity,...

... Informed by our decades working with local residents, businesses and institutions, we have developed a vision for Anable Basin centered around that spirit of productivity and quality of life – one that maintains light manufacturing while also creating public accessibility to a long-shuttered waterfront. We are proud to have a partner in Amazon that shares that vision. We’ve seen firsthand in Seattle how the company has worked to develop and integrate its campus and employees into the surrounding community, and we know Amazon intends to execute a similar vision here. It’s therefore meaningful for us, as a family, to be able to work closely with Amazon on a plan for Anable Basin that honors the character of LIC and stays true to the same vision of innovation and productivity that drew our grandfather, Louis Pfohl, here seven decades ago, and was furthered by his children, Ann, Jim and Lynn. Plaxall welcomes Amazon to LIC and looks forward to continuing our longstanding discussions with the community about Anable Basin as plans move forward.

CBS News has more on Who Benefits from Amazon LIC HQ.

Amazon explains it's HQ decision.

And press conference on Amazon LIC HQ by Governor Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio and staff.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE 11/15 - Here's the November 14 Protest Rally against proposed Amazon Long Island City HQ.

The medical needs of this 2 mile long historic island on the East River is a perfect landscape for our services.

RIUC is the first health care facility on the Island. Currently local residents must travel to either Manhattan or Astoria, for treatment—a trip that requires the use of a tram, subway, bus or car. Our facility in essence created a full-service medical center for a growing population of 15,000. RIUC is here to serve your needs.

These needs will increase in the near future with the addition of new multi-family developments and the new Cornell NYC Tech campus, which is under construction and due to open this year. The University is relying on our center to tend to the medical needs of the students and faculty. Roosevelt Island Urgent Care is also well positioned to provide services to the many construction workers who are on the Island during the next few years.

The RIRA Common Council’s four member PPF Committee reviewed the RIOC-provided applications of ten Roosevelt Island 501c organizations. Each is seeking funds for their respective program(s). After reviewing the Committee report during its meeting on November 7, 2018, the RIRA Common Council approved it for transmittal to Ms Rosenthal and her appropriate staff. The Common Council is very pleased that RIOC increased the funding availed from $100,000 to a total of $150,000. Of course, the Common Council hopes to see further increases aimed at an eventual steady state of three percent of the RIOC operating budget per legislation approved by Governor Cuomo.

Further to the above, it is with pleasure that we provide you the attached funding recommendations for your review and approval. If any questions, please let us know and also when this matter will be on the agenda for review and approval consideration of the Corporation’s Board. The Committee will provide under separate cover other forms that RIOC requires.

We thank RIOC for its continued commitment to support the community. The PPF program is evidence of that. Additionally, we thank you for continuing to allow the RIRA-Common Council to provide inputs to the important process of availing funds to qualified Roosevelt Island applicants.

1. PS/IS 217 Parent Teachers Association (PTA)
Amount Requested: $33,500 Amount Recommended: $15,500
Committee Decision and Recommendation: The funds are only for the Salvadori Center program comprised of and representative of the School*s diverse population of 6th through 8th graders.

Committee Decision and Recommendation: Funding is to support ensuring an operable heating and cooling (HVAC) system. To help better assure cost-effectiveness, there should be at least five years on the lease.

Committee Decision and Recommendation: The funds are to be used as deemed appropriate and/or proportionate to support meeting the objectives of scholarships, a summer musical theater camp, and some limited community outreach -- all with keen efforts to promote broad diversity -- encouraging diversity by helping minorities who are underrepresented in the programs offered.

Committee Decision and Recommendation: The funds are aimed at helping to fund an instructor for a class of choice.

9. IDig2Learn

Amount Requested: $21,700 Amount Recommended: $14,500
Committee Decision and Recommendation: The funds are aimed at funding a manager and/or visiting contractors for uses relevant to the needs of the applicant.

Committee Decision and Recommendation: The funds are intended for use in supporting trips and other activities as determined by the Director. It is strongly recommended that research and planning is undertaken for an upgraded transportation bus. Overall, the use of funding, given the aforementioned language in this section, is at the discretion of the Director.

The RIRA recommendations ranged from $9,750 to $29,500 for 9 of the 10 Roosevelt Island non profit organizations. Left far behind was the Carter Burden Roosevelt Island Senior Center who received a recommendation for much less - $3,250.

The final decision on distribution of Public Purpose Funds is made by RIOC.

In response to my inquiry, a NYPD spokesperson replied there was a dispute between a student and teacher but that no gun was involved.

The issue was raised again last Thursday, November 8, when a concerned PS/IS 217 parent sent this message to the Roosevelt Island Parents Network:

Possibly someone can clarify me a doubt. Could somebody explain to me why no one is doing anything (PSD, RIOC, PS/IS217, DOE, NYPD, etc.) or why are some parents more concerned about the Library Fair than the threat of gunfire at the Island’s school?

As many of you know, a student at PS/IS 217 has threatened his classmates to bring a gun to school and shoot them, he also claimed to have access to the gun, as a reference he has friendship with the shooter of Manhattan Park, whose gun was not found per NYPD information....

... Last night happened a new mass shooting (number 307 so far this year).

Hopefully somebody can answer my questions.

On Friday, November 9, I again asked PS/IS 217 Principal Beckman about the alleged gun incident at the school.

... Do you have any comment on this important safety issue for Roosevelt Island and PS/IS 217 parents....

No response from Ms Beckman to my second inquiry but she did send this message to 217 Parents on Friday:

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The safety and well being of all students and staff members at PS/IS 217 remain our highest priority. Towards that end, we understand that there have been questions in the community regarding an alleged threat that took place two weeks ago. Though we are not at liberty to share information about particular students or specific follow-up related to any student, we assure you that every precaution was taken to ensure the safety of all students and staff.

We look forward to your continued partnership as we work together to ensure PS/IS 217 continues to provide the best and safest learning environment possible for all of its students. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 212-980-0294.

Sincerely yours,

Mandana Beckman

Principal

Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 parent Sangeeta Joseph (correction, Ms Joseph is not a 217 parent) reports on her conversation Friday, November 9 with Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Chief Jack McManus about the school incident. According to Ms. Joseph:

Chief Jack McManus ... called me back to give out the facts of what really happened at PS 217 a couple of weeks ago.

The facts are as follows:

An 11 year old child had his/her phone taken away at school and responded by verbally threatening to return and shoot. (It has been confirmed that the child does not have access to a gun.)

Both PSD and NYPD got involved immediately and the parents of this child were contacted and spoken to. There is no legal requirement on what action the parents have to take and so there is no additional news on what follow up they have done personally with their child.

It appears that the main issue with this incident is the lack of communication from PS 217 about the incident taking place and having to hear it from a random email. Although we should not scrutinize every single flippant thing kids say on the playground, in today's day and age with gun violence at school's being so common place this is a particularly sensitive topic that we cannot take lightly. Schools should be advising students on things that are unacceptable to do/say and advising parents on topics that they must talk to/re-iterate with their kids at home.

At the same time we should keep a little bit of perspective - this is an 11 year old child who said something incredibly stupid in a fit of frustration. Even us as adults can admit to being guilty of saying things we don't really mean. As a community we should be concerned but equally empathetic to this childs emotional state as well as his/her parents state.

Lastly, Chief McManus has also asked whether the parents would like to have a town hall to discuss some of these issues? If you prefer we could also work on holding a video conference call so that more parents can dial in and submit questions.

Rumors spread when information is hidden from the public. Best to communicate quickly and honestly with the Roosevelt Island community.

Take a look at a few of the displays all lit up, the Reindeer Sled at Good Shepherd Plaza, Giant Ornament Balls at Tram Plaza Fountain, Colorful trees and Star at Riverwalk Commons and Holiday/Christmas Tree at Riverwalk Lawn.

The winter holidays at Roosevelt Island are special. Decorations are up, and the Island is looking festive.

The season offers us time for reflection and perspective. It lets the light of our good deeds shine. We look forward to warm reunions with old family and new friends. The true spirit of the season can best be seen in our children’s faces who reflect the wonder and excitement of anticipation. A special guest is coming to Roosevelt Island again this year and what’s he going to bring?

The Island’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony is set for Friday, November 30 at 7 p.m. at the lawn south of Rivercross. Island residents are invited to join us for a night of holiday music and caroling - featuring a variety of community organizations - a live band, hot beverages, warm cookies, raffle prizes and goodie bags.

Each year, are spirits our heartened and delighted by the generous contributions our local businesses and organizations make toward this event. Can we count on you again this year?

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars...

... I'm proud of my service. I'm proud of the service of all my brothers and sisters in arms over the years. As so you heard or figured out, we have served in every corner of the world defending the rights and freedoms that many Americans take for granted. ... I'm pleased and proud to be a resident and Board member of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp....

The NYPD Honor Guard began the Roosevelt Island Veterans Day Ceremony with the presentation of Colors and singing the National Anthem followed by the Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts reciting the Pledge of Allegiance,

The Roosevelt Island Veterans Day celebration began as an initiative from RIOC Director David Kraut, inspired by a suggestion several years ago by decorated World War 2 Veteran and Roosevelt Island resident Dominic Sciallo,

Thrilled to celebrate the new veterans center on Roosevelt Island! Thank you to all who have bravely served our country in the armed forces and have made so many sacrifices on behalf of our freedom. We are forever in your debt. pic.twitter.com/QOXiSzyCzf

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Roosevelt Island Community Calendar Of Events

WELCOME TO ROOSEVELT ISLAND

Welcome to the Roosevelt Islander Online!

Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.

The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.